About the location

DAWLISH WARREN

A couple of miles north east of the town of Dawlish is Dawlish Warren, a mile-long sand spit at the mouth of the River Exe on the stretch of south Devon coastline known as the English Riviera. Dawlish Warren has a selection of shops selling essentials, a golf course and a 55-acre nature reserve, an area of international importance for wildlife, and a roosting site for huge numbers of wading birds and wildfowl that winter on the estuary. The Nature Reserve is also home to more than 450 species of flowering plants including the rare Warren or Sand Crocus. Guided tours around the Reserve are available in the summer season. The beach at Dawlish Warren is a sandy Blue Flag beach backed by sand dunes and small lakes and stretches for miles to reach the Exe Estuary in one direction and Dawlish town in the other. A safe beach, lifeguarded in summer, provides a perfect place for seaside fun, and has many free, open-air events, children's entertainers and spectacular firework and air displays during the summer season. Dawlish Warren has a railway station on the Exeter to Newton Abbot line, one of the most scenic railway journeys in the country. Nearby there is much to occupy the visitor along the English Riviera coastline including Paignton Zoo, the Dartmouth Steam Railway, the picturesque fishing harbour of Brixham and the long pier and promenade at Teignmouth. A typically English seaside resort, great for family holidays at any time of year.